re: Smaller Sized Bird-dog questions

Isn't there someone with a gwp on here?

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I'd suggest a Lab from smaller lines.

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I have a 60 lb male lab, and he does great in my small apartment. He came from a sire that was 55 lbs and a dam that was 35 lbs.

How is the general temperament with boykins? Not just with kids, but around the house, friendliness, etc. Also, how biddable are they compared to labs/goldens? I've only worked around one and she seemed cool enough.

My golden that I have now is such a joy to work with I swore I'd never get a dog from another breeder, but a 30lb dog sure would be nice.

Varies. I have uncut male that is 2, he is a lot to handle for a 40lb dog. Great hunter and has retrieving drive unlike any dog I've hunted over. I won't say he has the nose of a pointer, but if he gets downwind of a bird he's gonna find it. Natural flusher and put him on a deer track - versatile dogs.

He has a good heart but can get very wound up and run back and forth in the house til he gets exercised. I think apartment life is fine as long as dog is exercised twice a day.

I'm in Houston area and looking for female as well - mine just passed all health tests.

My Boykin is MUCH calmer than my labkin. She will come inside, get her ball and lay down and chew on it for hours. The Labkin never sits still on the other hand and is wide open all the time.

As far as minding goes, the labkin is much more eager to please you and likes to stay underfoot whereas the boykin more does her own thing and is far more mischievous. She never tears stuff up, but she is much more likely to ignore me and doesn't respond well to swats and other physical punishment like the labkin. For the boykin it is all about positive reinforcement to get her to want to do something instead of fear of punishment or admonishing after the fact. I would have no qualms with living in an apt with a boykin, but they are a sporting breed and need regular exercise.